With athletes becoming bigger, faster, and stronger, everyday contact sports are facing a problem that is not going away. The topic of brain damage in sports, specifically football, is more relevantthan ever. We at ESPN are interested to know, how the league feels about brain damage and sports and what they will do to fix this current epidemic in their sport. Interview with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell: Brain Damage in Football Me: Are you aware of the issue involving brain damage in sports? Goodell: Yes, I am very aware of the current epidemic that is going on in the sports world. This problem has been here in the past and will continue to be a part of sports as long as there are sports. Only thing we can do is weather the storm and do anything in our power to make our sports as safe as possible for our athletes. Me: What are some of the things the NFL is doing to make the sport “as safe as possible”?
Goodell: We have made a major rule change in the past couple years and that is moving the ball up to the 35 yard line instead of the 30 yard line when kicking the ball off. Reason being kickoffs are where some of the biggest most intense hits and injuries occur because the athletes get a full head of steam before contact is made. By us moving up the kickoff landmark five yards it creates more touchbacks, hence eliminating the opportunity for these kickoffs to occur. We are working to eliminate kickoffs form the league in general. Also we are crunching down on blow to the heads. Any athlete who is on defense who hits a ball carrier above the shoulders will be fined (the amount varies on the severity of the hit). Me: With the NFL trying to become a safer league what do you think about the Saints “Bounty Gate”?
Goodell: For me to think that players would intentionally hurt opposing players and be rewarded for knocking these opposing players out the game is appalling. That kind of non-sense will not be tolerated in this league Me: What do you think about former players that are suing the league due to a claim of neglect when it comes to withholding information such as concussions? Goodell: this league is doing everything in our power to make the playing conditions for these players as safe as possible. We would never withhold and endanger these players more than they already by playing this sport. Me: Do you think Jr. Seau’s death was in direct relation to playing football? Goodell: It is possible; he played for a very long time. In any contact sport where athletes are constantly using their heads there is always a chance where side effects can be brain related. Me: What do you think about the family suing the league? Goodell: I respect their opinions and I am in deep sorrow for their loss. However this was not the leagues fault. That is all I have to say about that. We all know what the league is facing against with this huge issue arising in sports. Not that we know what Godell thinks about this problem and is course of action what do we think? Email us with your response @Espnews.com
http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/8830344/study-junior-seau-brain-shows-chronic-brain-damage-found-other-nfl-football-players
http://theconcussionblog.com/2011/01/26/interview-with-christopher-nowinski-sli/
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With athletes becoming bigger, faster, and stronger, everyday contact sports are facing a problem that is not going away. The topic of brain damage in sports, specifically football, is more relevantthan ever. We at ESPN are interested to know, how the league feels about brain damage and sports and what they will do to fix this current epidemic in their sport.
Interview with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell: Brain Damage in Football
Me: Are you aware of the issue involving brain damage in sports?
Goodell: Yes, I am very aware of the current epidemic that is going on in the sports world. This problem has been here in the past and will continue to be a part of sports as long as there are sports. Only thing we can do is weather the storm and do anything in our power to make our sports as safe as possible for our athletes.
Me: What are some of the things the NFL is doing to make the sport “as safe as possible”?
Goodell: We have made a major rule change in the past couple years and that is moving the ball up to the 35 yard line instead of the 30 yard line when kicking the ball off. Reason being kickoffs are where some of the biggest most intense hits and injuries occur because the athletes get a full head of steam before contact is made. By us moving up the kickoff landmark five yards it creates more touchbacks, hence eliminating the opportunity for these kickoffs to occur. We are working to eliminate kickoffs form the league in general. Also we are crunching down on blow to the heads. Any athlete who is on defense who hits a ball carrier above the shoulders will be fined (the amount varies on the severity of the hit).
Me: With the NFL trying to become a safer league what do you think about the Saints “Bounty Gate”?
Goodell: For me to think that players would intentionally hurt opposing players and be rewarded for knocking these opposing players out the game is appalling. That kind of non-sense will not be tolerated in this league
Me: What do you think about former players that are suing the league due to a claim of neglect when it comes to withholding information such as concussions?
Goodell: this league is doing everything in our power to make the playing conditions for these players as safe as possible. We would never withhold and endanger these players more than they already by playing this sport.
Me: Do you think Jr. Seau’s death was in direct relation to playing football?
Goodell: It is possible; he played for a very long time. In any contact sport where athletes are constantly using their heads there is always a chance where side effects can be brain related.
Me: What do you think about the family suing the league?
Goodell: I respect their opinions and I am in deep sorrow for their loss. However this was not the leagues fault. That is all I have to say about that.
We all know what the league is facing against with this huge issue arising in sports. Not that we know what Godell thinks about this problem and is course of action what do we think? Email us with your response @Espnews.com